Massage apparatus.



F.1.'N|LES. l vMASSAGE APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. 1915.

1,291,612. I Patnted Jur11.1-1,'19`19.

In murga 22 ze Y Fnnz'e jiji/Z657 NITED sTATEs PATENT onirica.

FANNIE JANE NILES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO yTI'IIE. NILES.

' NORMALIZING MACHINE CO., INC., OF

vYORK.

YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW MASSAGE, APPARATUS.

To all w/wm t may concern.'

Be it knownl that I, FANNIE J. Nimes, a

citizen of the United States, residing atv the. body .to reduce flesh and to operate as a remedy for many diseasesl or disorders due to obesity. i

A further object is to improve upon the construction. illustrated in my pending application for patent on massage machines, filed September l1, 1915and given Serial No. 50,149.

A further object is to provide a` massage apparatus comprising' a vseries of' parallel bars connected tov flexible membersand spaced apart by gaskets which operate to prevent noise, and to cushion the bars in their operation.

A further object is to provide improved elastic means at the ends ofthe body engagv ing member so as to eXert'a certain amount of elastic pressure and to cushionthe operengaging member which forms thesubject matter of my'present application.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing a fragment of one end of the body engaging member.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is aview in section on the line 5-1-5 of Flg. 2.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 14, 1919, Application med Novemter 1a, 1915. senal No. 61,200.

The machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is like the machine illustrated in my application above referred to and-comprises an operating table 1 supported at oneend on-a hol' low standard 2, and havin lateral eXtensions 3 at one end which a ord a rest for the arms during various positions of the body indicated at lA on the operating table. n A longitudinal shaft 4 is positioned below the table 1, and a `rectangular frame 6 is secured to the shaft 4, and is connected by a link 7 with 'a train of gearing 8 located in the standard 2. This train of gearing is' operated in any approved manner to impart an oscillatinn` movement to the frame 6, and the latter at its sides is provided With turn buttons 10 to connect my improved body engaging member 11 to 'the frame. l

My improved body engaging memberll comprises two flexible straps 12 which are projected through slots 13 in bars 14. The slots 13 are located adjacent the ends of the bars 14, and the latter are spaced apart by rubber gaskets 15 located aroundthe straps 12 and operating to hold the bars apart to prevent noise and valso to cushion the movement of the bars.

The bars 14 have smooth surfaces which may be of any-shape desired, and are adapted to exert a rubbing action on the part of the body to which they come in contact, but they are held` against any turning or rotary movement.

' The body engaging member 11 is precisely alike at both ends, and hence the description llgerlelinafter of one end will apply alike to ot Y Parallel rods 16 and 17 are' spaced and connected by spring members A18. Each spring member comprises a coiled spring 19, and a pair of approximately Ufsha'ped members 20, the latter havin their intermediate portions around the ro s 16 and 17 respec- I tively, and-their ends projected through the coiled sprin s-19, and at their'extreme endsA having hoo s y21 engaging over the end convolutions of the coiled spring 19. As' I have provided four of these springmem-` bers 18, a 'strong elastic cushion is had between the rods 16 and 17, and any tendency to separate the rods o crates to compress the springs as Will be un erstood.

On the ends of therods 16 and 17, I locato knobs 22,. and on the rods intermediate their ends, I locate spacing blocks 23. The knobs22 and spacing blocks-V23 are preferably of the same shape in cross section as the bars 14, although of course I do not -limit myself to the precise shape of these parts, and while I may secure the knobs 22l and spacing blocks 23 to the rods in any approved manner, I have illustrated ordi? nary pins 2,4 for the purpose.

The ends of the straps 1 2 are secured to rod 17 by lapping the ends of the straps around the rod, and then connectingthe saine by rivets 25 or by any other desired form of fastening means.

" On the rod 16, I secure two connecting straps'26 which arel preferably of leather or other suitable. materiaL-and are provided with' eyes 27f to receive the turn buttons of yframe 6. LThese eyes 27 inthe strapsl 26 permit of the necessary amount of adjustment lfor the body engaging member to answer all purposes. f

The straps 12 above referred to may of course be made of any.. material, but I preferably employ a Woven inelastic material having the necessary strength, andyet sufficiently flexibleto perform the functions for which they are intended.

I would also have it understood that I do not limit myselfto any precise number of bars or "to anyV particular shape, but desire to 'cover` broadly the idea -of b ars having a fixed relationshi t0 a flexible connecting member or meiners, fso thatthey exert a rubbing actionas distinguished from a rolling-action.

Various lslight changes mightnbe made in i' the general form and 4arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but Aconsider' myself atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall withi'nthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. n "apparatus ofr character de scribed, comprising a pair'of straps, a plurality of bars supported on the straps, spacing devices'between the bars, pairs of rods spacedapart 'and located at the ends of the straps,'said straps secured to one of each pair ofsaid rods, spring membersconnectimg straps secured ving the frode, and attac to the outer of/said pairs of rods and having eyes therein, substantially as described. 2. An apparatusA the character "dei scribed, comprising a' pair ofstraps, a plus rality ofbars supported' on the straps, spac` Y lnghdevices between the bars, pairs ofv rods..

.. spaced apart andvlocated ati` the ends of thev straps, said straps'lsecured" to one of each pairof said rods, 'spring members.connect-fy 'E therods, attaching straps secured to the the rodsand on the intermediate portions of the rods, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the

ycombination with a body supporting table,

of a flexible body engaging member adapted to be passed over anbody on the table, said flexible member disposed to rest in frictional engagement with the body and acting to hold the body to the table and means for passing the member across' the body, the body engaging surface of said flexible meinbei' being fixed relative to said member whereby the body is treated to arrubbing action' as distinguished from a rolling action. 4. In a device of the .class described, the i combination with a body supporting table, of a flexible strap including a series of body engaging members supported by a body on the table and, meanslfor holding the members against rotary vmovement as they Aare passed across the bodyfandi-neeans for vmoving the strap `bodily aclfoss the body.

5. A device of theclass descigitied, includ- .ing a table for` supporting abody in substantially horizontal position, of a flexible strapv adapted to bepass'ed' over 'the Y., supported body, said strap having an 'inne'rside resting in -frictional 'engagement with tlrebbdy, said inner sidebeing fixed against movement in- "l dependent of the movement ofthe strap as a whole.

6. Adevice of the class described, includportion, said bars fixed in the strap against movement independent of the movement of the strap whereby the portion islengaged frietionally, means engagingthe strap for moving said bars Aacross 'said portion, and spacing means disposed between the bars thereby to space the'bars andform a grating effect for yengaging said portion..

,A device o'ffthe'class described, includnig a table, adapted to support a portion of a person beingitrea'ted, 'aflexible strap extending across the table, means for moving the strap in the direction of-itsllength, said 5 strap including a plurality 'of body engaging members disposed transvcrsel of the length cf the1 str/apand each ymemliiery having au inner cody engaging V'surface' and sideD .sury .roo

faces extending outwardly from said body engaging surface thereby to forni spaces beT tween the adjacent body engaging surfaces to, contain projecting portions of the flesh ofthe person being treated. 9. A device of the class described','includ ing a table, adapted to support a portion ot a person being treated, a flexible strap ex` tending across the table, means for moving the strap inthe direction of its length, said i strap including a plurality of body en raging members disposed transversely of the engthof the strap' and each memberhaving an inner bodyengagingsnrface and side surfaces extending outwardly from said body engaging surface thereby to `form spaces4 between the adjacent body engaging surfaces to contain projecting portionsV of the flesh of the person being treated, said body engaging surfaces being flat' and'disposed continuously in alinement. i

10. In a device of the elassdescribed, a

Y massaging strap incl u dinga carrying member and a plurality of body engaging members spaced apart to provide openings through the strap andhaving a fixed relationship to the carrying member, elastic gaskets supported by said carryinr member and disposed between certain adjacent pairs of said members tliereby lo prevent noise' and lo cushion therelative movement of said pairs of members, said carrying member provided. with means for connecting the same to a v'strap actuating machine.

11. In va device of the class described, a massaging strap including a carrying inem ber and a plurality of body engaging members of greater length than the width o1" the carrying member,.said body engaging members being spaced apar-t longitudinally1ol-the carrying member andhavinga fixed relationship to the carrying member, said carry- 4ing member provided with means for connecting the same to a strap actuating machine, said means includinga resilient connection between the machine and bodv en gaging i'iiembers and including means lor placing said resilient connection under tension. f g

12. vln a device of the class described, the combination ot a si'ipporting member for holdingone side of a portion ol' a persons body in reclining position. a flexible triction bination with means for siipportingtlie patient. in reclining position, of apaii; o f belts arranged side byr side, a 'plura1ity of hori.

zontally arranged massage devices having@ curvedfengaging faces carried by said belts i' and adapted to engage with the body of the reclining person, .the portions of said belts carrying' the devices in active :engagement` with they body being arrangedbtotravel in substantially horizontal paths, but adapted to conform to the outline of thebody, and' means for actuating said belts to cause the devices tov move `while in contact with the body. y

15. In a massage or body treatment .ina-

chine, the combination with means for supporting the patient iii reclinirigi; position, of flexible supports, ra plurality of' elongated non-yieldingliorizontally arranged l massage devices carried vby saidl supports, the

,portionsrl said supports carrying the devicesin active engagement being arranged to traveh/in substanliallyl horizontal paths,

whereby the devicesl 'may engage 'vith the body of reclining person when in substantially horizontal position, and means for actuating said supports to in ove the devices while in engagement with the body.

1.6. ln a body treatment machine, the coinhination ol' bells, a series of horizontallyl arranged non yielding and non -rotatin massage devices carried by said belts, sin belts being arrangedin parallel relation and adapted to yield, whereby they willrest oni that a plurality ot the devices will engage i and conform to the outline of the body, so

with the .body of a person when in horizontal position, and a motor for actuating said belts.

1.7. In a body'treatinent machine, the combination of a pair of belts, a plurality ofv elongated n'iassage devices having curved faces for engagement withthe coverin on a, person Vtaking a treatment in the mac me,

and means for supporting said belts so that y the engaging portions 'of 'the belts may curve in vertical planes, so that a plurality ot' said massage devices may engage a person lying iii a horizontal position, and means lor actuating saidr belts.

lb. ln aniassagc machine, the combination with means for supporting the person to be `treated in a horizontal position of a series 0f non-yielding massage devices having curyed engaging faces, a belt or'belts for carrying said devices, and means engaging with said belts lor actuating the same., whereby the belts with thc massage devices thereon will conform to the outline of tlicprisoii when iii horizontal position, and the devices will be moved horizontally ,while in engaggementv with the body.

l?. ln a massage machine, the combinationk with means for supporting the person to be tirati-l in a horizontal position, of a pair of belts, af plurality" of non-yie1din elongated massage ,derces carried by said elts, a motor and'connections between the motor and ythe belts fordrivingthe belts with the mas- ,sa'ge devices. thereon backv and forthacross Y thefpersony while in horizontal position.

v 20. Ina massage'machme,the-combination' of a. pair f horizontally arranged. means 'for fjjs'upporting said belts, means for 'reciprocating said belts, and a plurality l of horizontally arranged non-.yielding massage -devices spaced at short distancesapart and carried bysaid belts.

21. In a frlctional massage machine, theI combinatoxf of a fixed table for spportin' e belts, 1

mancia body in 'a non-yielding' and .substantially horizontal position and a frctonal massage device ac uating mechanismz disposed below the top o the table, said mechanism provided with means for engaging a massaging 20 devicel and adapted to operate said massage gice in engagement with the supported In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 25 two subscribing 

